Cloth-cutting machine.



J. B. GURY.

CLOTH CUTTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNEB, 1914.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

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THE NORRIS PETERS C0,, PHOTD-LITHQ. wnsnmcmn, D. C.

J. B. GURY. CLOTH CUTTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8. 19m.

Patented M1120, 1915.

3 BHEETS-SHEBT 2.

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THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHdI'D-LITHQ: WASHINGTON. D. C

J. B. GURY.

CLOTH CUTTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8', 1914.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHBBT 3.

THE NORRIS PETERS (30-. PHOIQUIHQ, WASIINGIDW, D. C.

TINT 6T JOHN B. GURY, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

CLOTH-CUTTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 20, 19 15..

Application filed June a, 1914. Serial No. 843,656.

To all whom it may concern 3 I Be it known that 1, JOHN B. GURY, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of St. Louisand State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement inCloth-Cutting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to cloth cutting machines designed for use incutting a pile of cloth spread upon a table, and particularly to thattype in which a rotary cutter, driven by an electric motor, is mountedon a foot plate to be freely movable over the table supporting thecloth.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a device forconnecting the cutter to the spindle upon which it is mounted which willefliciently transmit the driving force of the spindle to the cutter andwhich will permit the cutter being easily detached from its spindle.

A. further object is to improve the construction of the guard whichprevents the cutter from injuring the operators hand.

A still further object is to simplify the construction of the supportfor the grinding wheels.

A still further object is to provide a throat plate for the cutter whichcan be adjusted as the cutter wears smaller to guide the cloth againstthe cutter at the same distance above the lower edge of the cutter.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, andin which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout theseveral views,-Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cloth cutting machineembodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine shownin Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the lower part of themachine shown in Fig. 1; Fig. a is a horizontal section on the line 1- 1on Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5-5 on Fig. 3;Fig. 6 is a rear face view of the cutter; Fig. 7 is an edge view of thecutter; Fig. 8 is an end view of the cutter spindle; Fig. 9 is a sideview of the cutter spindle; Fig. 10 is a rear elevat1on of the motorcasing, with the cover plate of the switch removed and the upper bearingof the motor in vertical section; Fig. 11 is a fragmentary verticalsection through the foot plate in the plane of the cutter; Fig. 12 is afragmentary bottom plan view of the foot plate; Fig. 13 is an enlargedfragmentary detail section on the line 1813 in Fig. 1. 4

The cutting machine shown in the acco1npanying drawings comprises a footplate 1, which is preferably elliptical. The bottom face of the footplate 1 is smooth and flat and its edge is thin so that the foot platecan easily slip under a pile of cloth spread upon a table. Secured tothe foot plate 1 is an upright standard 2 which has integral therewithnear the top a split sleeve 3. The motor for driving the cutter ismounted vertically in a motor casing 4:. Since the construction of themotor does not form part of the invention, a detailed description of itwill not be given. Extending downwardly from the motor casing 1 is along bearing 5 which passes through the split sleeve 3 and which sleeveis clamped thereto by a screw 6. The motor shaft 7 extends down throughthe bearing 5 and to the end of the motor shaft 7 is secured a spiralgear 8.

Integral with the standard 2 is agear case 9. Secured in the outer faceof the gear case is a bushing 10 in which is fixed a pin 11. The pin 11extends horizontally through the gear case 9 at one side of the motorshaft 7 to the opposite side of the standard 2. Rotatably mounted uponthe pin 11 is a hollow cutter spindle 12, upon which are cut spiral gearteeth 13. EX- tending radially from the outer end of the cutter spindleare four equally spaced lugs 14. The edges of the lugs 14 which face inthe direction in which the cutter spindle 12 rotates are beveled, asshown in Figs. 8 and 9.

The cutter 15 is a disk, the circumferential edge portion of which isbeveled on one face to give a sharp periphery. Arranged in thecircumference of a circle having the same center as the cutter 15 arefour hooked fingers 16 which are secured to the cutter and which arespaced at equal distances around the circumference of said circle. Thehooked fingers 16 are located the same distance from the center of thecutter 15 as the lugs 14 are from the center of the cutter spindle 12.The lugs 14 pass between the hooked fingers 16 and the cutter 15. Thehooked fingers 16 join to the cutter 15 at their ends which face in thedirection in which the cutter turns; and consequently, the lugs 14, byengaging the bottoms of the hooked fingers 16, will drive the cutter 15.

The hooked fingers 16 are preferably stamped from the cutter 15. In thecutter 15 is a circular hole 17 having the same diameter as the pin 11.

In the foot plate 1 is a longitudinal slot 18 in which the lower portionof the cutter 15 turns. Located in the front of the slot 18 andextending in the same line therewith is a guide slot 19. In the bottomof the foot plate 1 is a recess 20 extending on each side of the guideslot 19. The top face of the foot plate 1 has a flat rectangular portion21 which inclines upwardly toward the cutter 15 and overlies the guideslot 19. Mounted on this inclined portion 21 of the foot plate 1 is athroat plate or cloth guide 22 which is a rectangular plate beveledalong its marginal portions and has a slot 23 in one end through whichthe edge portion of the cutter passes. Arranged longitudinally of thethroat plate 22 are two lugs 24, preferably pressed from said throatplate, which project downwardly into the guide slot 19. A screw 25projects from the bottom of the foot plate 1 through the guide slot 19and screws into the throat plate 22, the head of the screw 25 engagingthe bottom of the recess 20. V

Pivoted upon a screw 26 which screws into the outer end of the pin 11 inthe gear case 9, is an arm 27 which extends across the outer face of thecutter 15. The arm 27 terminates in a curved guard 28 which is locatedclose in front of the front edge of the cutter 15. Extending forwardlyand slightly upwardly from the standard 2 is a bracket 29 which has atits outer end a curved head 30, against the face of which bears theguard 28. In the curved head 30 of the bracket 29 is a row of recesses31, and the guard 28 is indented near the upper end thereof to form aprojection 28 (see Fig. 13) adapted to engage any one of said recesses31. Integral with the guard 28 is a finger piece 32, and a hook 33 whichengages the opposite side of the head 30 of the bracket 29. The arm 27is resilient and presses the guard 28 against the head 30 of the bracket29.

The grinder is supported by a bracket 34 integral with the standard 2.The bracket 34 is split at one end, and in this split end are clampedtwo flat springs 36 by means of a screw 35; Riveted to the free ends ofthe two springs 36 are two arms 37 which extend forwardly on oppositesides of the split sleeve 3 upon the standard 2. A grinding wheel 38 ismounted to rotate on the free end of each arm 37. The grinding wheels 37lie in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the cutter 15. To thegrinding wheels is loosely secured a yoke 39 which has an integralfinger piece 40. Pivoted to the top of the yoke 39 is a link 41 havingan elongated slot 42 therein, through which passes a stud 43 fixed tothe motor casing 4. The upper end portion of the link 41 is benttransversely at right angles and rebent, and in the bent portion and therebent portion of the said end portion of the link 41 is screwed anadjusting screw 44. The adjusting screw 44 is adapted to engage the stud43 to limit the downward movement of the grinding wheels 38.

Integral with the split sleeve 3 is a hollow shank 45, to the end ofwhich is fastened a handle 46. Communicating with the hollow in theshank is a hole 47 in the top of the shank; and around the shank 45,adjacent to this hole 47, is a split loose sleeve 48, having a holetherein adapted to aline with the hole 47 in the shank 45. In thebearing 5 of the motor casing 4 is a passage 49 communicating with thehollow in the shank 45. The hollow in the shank is filled with anabsorbent material, such as felt, or the like.

At the top of the motor, the motor shaft 7 is hollow and has a pin 50extending through it. A round rod 51, having a notch in its lower endface adapted to engage the pin 50, is inserted in the motor shaft 7. Therod 51 has a knurled head 52 at its top so that it can be easily turned.In the upper bearing for the motor shaft 7 is an annular recess 53,filled with felt or a like material; and in the inner wall of the upperbearing of the motor shaft 7 is a hole through which oil contained inthe annular recess 53 can pass.

The switch for starting and stopping the motor is fastened to the rearof the motor casing 4 above the handle 46 in a position where theoperator can easily operate the switch with his thumb. The switchconiprises a blade 54 adapted to engage two spring contacts 55. Theblade 54 is pivoted on a fixed pivot 56 located below the springcontacts 55. A switch lever 57, having an operating handle 58, ispivoted at a point above the contacts 55 and has a curved oifset nearthe middle. A tension spring 59 is connected to the blade 54 at one end,and at the other end to the switch lever 57 below the pivot of the blade54. A stop pin 60 limits the movement of the blade 54 away from thecontacts 55.

An electrical current is supplied to the motor through the switch byflexible wires which are connected to a plug (not shown) which isadapted to slip over two pins 61 secured to the motor casing 4 andelectrically connected to the motor, one of the pins 61 being shown inFig. 2.

Referring to the operation of the device, the operator pushes the handle58 of the switch (Fig. 10) to the left to start the motor. hen thehandle 58 of the switch has been pushed to the left to a point, wherethe line between the points where the spring 59 is connected to theblade 54 of the switch and to the switch lever 57, is at the left of thepivot 56 of the blade 54, the spring 59 then throws the blade 54 to theleft into engagement with the two spring contacts 55. As the motorrevolves, the spiral gear 8 secured to the motor shaft 7 drives thecutter spindle 12. The cutter spindle 12 drives the cutter 15 in thedirection indicated by the arrow on Fig. 1. The foot plate 1 is nowslipped under the pile of cloth and the ma chine moved along the tableto cut the cloth along any desired lines. I

In using the cutting machine, the operator usually holds the clothbefore the cutter smooth with his hand. Under such conditions, the handof the operator is liable to be accidentally cut; and to prevent this,the

guard 28 is provided. The guard 28 is made adjustable so that it may beraised or low ered to stand in front ofv that part of the edge of thecutter 15 whichis above the pile of cloth, regardless of the thicknessof the pile of cloth. The guard 28 is adjusted by taking hold of thefinger piece 32 and pulling said guard away from the curved head 30 ofthe bracket 29 against the opposition of the resilient arm 27. By thismovement, the projection 28 on the guard 28 is withdrawn from the recess31 in the curved head 30 in which it is engaged, and the arm 27 togetherwith the guard 28 integral there with, can be swung up or down on thescrew 26 to the new position desired. When the guard 28 has been placedin the desired position, the pull upon the finger piece 32 is releasedand the guard 28 shifted until the projection 28 thereon engages theadjacent recess in the curved head 30, after which said guard is fixedin its new position. The hook 33 on the guard 28 prevents said guardfrom being pulled too far from the curved head 30.

The cutters in cloth cutting machines soon become dull and must befrequently sharpened. This sharpening of the cutter is easilyaccomplished in the machine shown and described without detaching thecutter. To sharpen the cutter 15, the motor is started, and while it isrunning, the operator swings the arms 37 downwardly and sidewise bymeans of the finger piece 40 to bring one of the grinding wheels 38 intoengagement with the beveled edge portion of the cutter 15. ing wheel 38with the beleved edge portion of the cutter 15 is at an angle to aradius of the cutter drawn to said line of contact and consequently thegrinding wheel rubs the cutter as it revolves. When the beveled edgeportion of the cutter 15 has been ground sufficiently, the arms 37 areswung sidewise in the opposite direction to bring the other grindingwheel 38 into contact with the opposite face of the cutter so as toremove the bur formed by grinding of the beveled edge portion of thecutter. The springs 38 per- The line of contact of the grindmit the arms37 to move both sidewise and downwardly, and also operate to return thearms 37 to their normal position. The adj usting screw 44 permits theextent of downward movement of the arms 37 to be adjusted as the cutterwears smaller.

The cutters of a cloth cutting machine are soon worn out by the frequentgrinding to which they are subjected and it is necessary to make asupply of extra cutters for each machine. Since the cutters must befrequently replaced, it is desirable that it should be a simpleoperation to remove a worn cutter and put a new one in its place.

The cutter 15 may be easily removed by first removing the screw 26 andthe arm 27 together with the guard 28. The knurled head 52 of the rod 51is then turned to rotate the motor shaft 7 in the direction opposite tothe direction of its normal rotation, the cutter 15 being held firmlyagainst rotation at the same time. The lugs 14 upon the cutter spindle12 are drawn out of engagement with the hooked fingers 16 upon thecutter 15; and said cutter may be slipped from the pin 11. To secure thecutter 15 to the cutter spindle 12, the same manipulations are performedin reverse order.

It is desirable that the cloth should engage the cutter some distanceabove the lower edge of the cutter. In order that the place where thecloth engages the cutter may be maintained the same distance above thelower edge thereof as said cutter wears smaller, the adjustable throatplate 22 is provided. As the throat plate 22 is adjusted toward thecutter 15, it is also raised a corresponding distance, since it slideson the upwardly inclined portion 21 of the foot plate 1. The lugs 24 ofthe throat plate 22 engage in the guide slot 19 and keep the slot 23 insaid throat plate in line with the edge of the cutter 15. The screw 25holds the throat plate 22 in its adjustedpositions, as is apparent.

()i1 is fed to the lower bearing of the motor shaft 7 through thepassage 49 from the felt contained in the hollow of the shank 45. Thisfelt is kept saturated with oil by supplying oil to it through the hole47 in the shank 45. The hole 47 is exposed by turning the loose sleeve48 until the hole therein alines with said hole 47 and the hole 47 iscovered by turning the loose sleeve 48 into the position where the holetherein does not aline with the hole 47. Oil is fed to the upper bearingof the motor shaft 7 from the felt in the recess 53 through the hole inthe inner wall of the upper bearing. The recess 53 is normally coveredby the knurled head 52 on the rod 51, which may be removed to giveaccess to said recess 53.

The construction shown and described may be considerably modifiedwithout departing from my invention, and I do not &

wish,-therefore, ;to be limited to the details of the construetionshoW-nand described.

What I claim :is:

1. 2A. cloth cutting machine comprising a cutter mounted upon a foot.p1ate,.;said foot plate having: a; portion in front of said outterWhich inclines upwardly toward said cutter, said'inclinedportion beingabove the portions of said foot plate surrounding it and having a guide:slot therein, a throat plat-erhaving a slot .in one end portion thereofand two lugs integral therewith,.said throat plate being slidablymounted -on said inclined portion With said lugs .-in said guide slot,and a screw passed through said guide slot from. the bottom of said footplate and screw-threaded intosaid throat plate.

2. A cloth cutting machine comprising a foot plate arstandard securedtosaid foot plate, a cutter rotatably mounted on said standard, twospacedarms, 'fiatisprings connecting the corresponding ends of said arms tosaid standard, a grinding wheel'rotatably mounted on the free end ofeachof-said arms, said grinding Wheels being located on opposite sides ofsaid cutter, andadjustable means connected to said arms for limiting thedownward-.movement of saidarms and said 5 grinding Wheels.

3. A-cloth cutting machine comprising a foot: plate, a standard securedto said foot plate,.a cutter spindle rotatably mounted on said standard,saidcutter spindle having lugs extending radially therefrom at the outerend thereof, a circular cutter having hooked fingers engaging said lugs,said lugs and said hooked fingers preventing rotation of said cutterrelative tosaid cutter spindle in one direction and permitting suchrotation in the'opposite direction.

4. A cutter for cloth cutting machines comprisinga disk having its edgesharpened, said disk having hooked fingers integral therewith, saidfingers being spaced apart in the circumference of a circle having thecenter of said disk as its center, and pointing in the same directionalong said circle.

5.-A'cloth cutting machine comprising a foot plate, a standard securedto said foot p'late a cutter spindle rotatably mounted on said standard,said cutter spindle having lugs extending radially therefrom at theouter end thereof, a circular cutter rotatably mounted on said standardand having hooked fingers engaging said lugs, said lugs and said fingerspreventing rotation of said outter relative tosaid cutter spindle in onedirection and preventing such rotation in the opposite direction, arotary shaft mounted on said standard and operatively connected t02S2lidcutter spindle, and means connected to: said shaft and adapted to beoperated manually to turn said shaft.

'6. A cloth cutting machine comprising a foot.plate,a standard securedto said foot plate, a cutter rotatably mounted on said standard, an armpivotally supported by saidstandard and having a guard at its end, saidguard being in front of the edge of said cutter, and means for holdingsaid arm in different'positions relative to said standard.

7 A cloth cutting machine comprising a foot plate, a standard secured tosaid foot plate, a cutter, a cutter spindle rotatably mounted onsaidstandard, said cutter and said spindle each having projectionscooperating to secure said cutter to said spindle, said cooperatingprojections being arranged for interlocking and disengagement by arotary movement of said cutter relative to said spindle.

8. A cloth cutting machine comprising a foot plate, a standard securedto said foot plate, a bearing secured to said standard and adapted tosupport the shaft of the motor of the cutting machine, and a handlehaving a-hollow shank, said shank being secured to said standard andhaving a hole therein in communication with the bore of said bearing,said shank having the hollow therein filled with a material capable ofabsorbing oil.

Signed at St. Louis, Missouri,

this 5th day of June, 1914.

JOHN B. GURY.

Witnesses:

'NEIL D. PRESTON,

MARTHA A. SHELTON.

Copies: of .thispatentimay be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

